WSJ.com and NYTimes.com lower their paywalls for election coverage

UPDATE: “We are taking down the pay wall tomorrow,” a New York Times spokesperson tells Romenesko readers. The Times is fre on web and mobile platforms from 6:00 p.m. EST Tuesday until 6:00 p.m. EST Wednesday.

The best part of the Wall Street Journal’s election-coverage press release: “Beginning tomorrow at 5 p.m. EST through Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m., WSJ.com will offer a global “open house” during which all content will be free to all users online and via the Journal’s universal app for iPhone and iPad.”

Read the Wall Street Journal and New York Times release excerpts after the jump.

NEW YORK (Nov. 5, 2012) – The Wall Street Journal will provide comprehensive, multi-platform global coverage for Election Day 2012, including breaking news and in-depth analysis from Journal reporters and editors in Washington D.C., cities nationwide and worldwide, live video, social media coverage, as well as coverage on several of the Journal’s local-language sites. In addition, beginning tomorrow at 5 p.m. EST through Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m., WSJ.com will offer a global “open house” during which all content will be free to all users online and via the Journal’s universal app for iPhone and iPad.

—–The New York Times Special Election Night Coverage: Free Digital Access and Live Video Programming

To enable all users to access its deep coverage of the presidential election, The New York Times will provide free digital access on Web and mobile platforms from 6:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 6 through 6:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 7. This is the third time The Times has offered free digital access surrounding a major news event.